A year ago Robert Sarvis was running for Governor. Now, he's back, joining the hunt for a seat in the U.S. Senate. And whether or not he has a chance to win, the Libertarian candidate says his campaign is about building a viable alternative to the two-party system.

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner starts the campaign season with a commanding lead over former National Republican Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie in Virginia’s U.S. Senate race, according to a statewide survey.

They've been running for months, but Monday morning the candidates in Virginia's U.S. Senate race kicked off the fall campaign in Buena Vista. Democrat Mark Warner, Republican Ed Gillespie and Libertarian Robert Sarvis met voters during the annual Labor Day Parade, and rallied supporters during the speeches that followed.

The two candidates in Virginia's U.S. Senate race crossed the state line Saturday for the first debate of the campaign. Democratic Senator Mark Warner and Republican challenger Ed Gillespie met at The Greenbrier Resort, where the Virginia Bar Association was holding its summer meeting.

The two candidates in Virginia's U.S. Senate race crossed the state line Saturday for the first debate of the campaign. Democratic Senator Mark Warner and Republican challenger Ed Gillespie met at The Greenbrier Resort, where the Virginia Bar Association was holding its summer meeting.

The Republican Party is the second oldest currently existing political party in the U.S. behind the Democratic Party. Take a look at a timeline of the key dates, events, leaders and policies that make up the history of the Republican Party.